Imagine going back 1,000 years ago to the banks of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. At that time, the area was inhabited only by Native Americans.

These people were the first land clearers in the region and farmed corn, beans and squash in open fields, some of which, kept cleared by subsequent cultures, lasted until the coming of the Europeans, a full 600 years from that point. It might be noted that knocking down huge trees (some of these trees were 10 feet in diameter) in virgin forest with stone axes was a daunting task but probably started with using bark as a building material and ended in girdling and burning the tree to bring it down.

A stroll along the James P. Bressler Heritage Trail on Canfield Island is invigorating and educational. It's also tranquil, this quiet spot along the Susquehanna River's West Branch.

The trail is part of Loyalsock Township's Riverfront Park and is dedicated to James P. Bressler. A scholar and educator beloved in his community, Bressler carved a niche for himself in the region's prehistory and history books with his archaeological investigations.

Archaeologist James Bressler visits Riverfront Heritage Park named in his honor. Located on Canfield Island, the park contains a significant prehistoric Indian village in Loyalsock Township. Bressler and members of Northcentral Chapter 8 of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology excavated prehistoric sites in the area for many decades and Bressler is responsible for having the island listed with the National Register of Historic Places

"That is, in my estimation, one of the best-kept secrets in the county," Bressler said about the trail in a previous interview. "This is a unique attempt to integrate a number of different things. First of all, local history is really not being taught in our schools because there are too many competing things to teach. I understand that. But this is a unique way to combine a pleasant walk, a history lesson, and nature study. It's just a pleasure to walk around there."

The following elements comprise a listing of
sites and events that chronicle the human experience in the designated area
over at least 7,000 years and contain much that is worthy of commemoration.
From this list can be drawn those that collectively make this section of
Lycoming County unique in character and historically important in our state and
nation.

The
Loyalsock Historic Complex

A Rationale for Commemoration

Defining and Understanding

From
a hypothetical point in Loyalsock Creek where it merges with the West Branch of
the Susquehanna River we scribe a two-mile arc
beginning on the river bank to our west and thence the arc till we touch the
river again to our east. The area enclosed, then, is here going to be referred
to as the Loyalsock Historic Complex. It is indeed a special place, as we shall
see, that deserves to be recognized as part of our historic heritage.

Often,
when we think of historic places we immediately visualize such sites and events
as Gettysburg
where the thought of the horrors of a three-day battle of the Civil War have a
profound effect on all the generations.

Or,
perhaps, Valley Forge comes to mind where the depressed forces of the rebel
Americans under Washington spent a grueling
winter while General Howe and his British forces regaled in comfort in nearby Philadelphia.

Or
it may be Bushy Run, where Colonel Bouquet in a clever military maneuver routed
the attacking Indian forces and thus effectively ended Pontiac's rebellion.

There
maybe others important to you, but they all have one common element, they are
singular events occurring at one time and important to the development of our
nation and its people. Our complex is different, for we not only honor the
singular events that in themselves merit our attention, as they relate to the
founding and growth of a County and Nation; but also the unfolding story of
man's coming to this land and the evidence he left behind. For man first set
foot on the Complex some 12,000 years ago as compared to our appearance
scarcely more than 250 years ago. It seems reasonable, then, that here we
should include in our recognitions of heritage the people who occupied this
land 98% of human time to our 2%.

Public Archaeology

Please Donate to NCC8

NCC8 relies upon donations. Without your generosity, we could not pay for the Insurance needed to host digs. We also need donations to purchase supplies, such as trowels, shovels, tarps, and artifact preservation bags.Please donate today and help preserve and protect Lycoming County's cultural heritage.

NCC8 Events & Dig Dates

Meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first Monday of the month. In May, NCC8 will return to the dig site for excavations from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30, Thursdays. Check the calendar for the correct date. More details will be posted later.